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Biomedical subjects

R G Ellison

Publications and source records attributed to R G Ellison.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

The early years.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

History, 20th Century↗
PubMed1988

Repair of aneurysms of the thoracic aorta: 12-year experience in a high-risk population.

We present our 12-year experience with surgical treatment of aneurysms of the thoracic aorta in a high-risk patient population. Of 52 patients with aneurysms, 36 patients, aged 19 to 80 years, had operation. In 24 of the 36, there were three or more associated major disease processes, such as chronic bronchitis, hypertensive cardiovascular disease, aortic valve disease, cerebrovascular disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and coronary artery disease. Eight patients with acute type A (ascending aorta) and seven with acute type B (descending aorta) aneurysms had emergency repair, with survival in four and seven, respectively. All patients with chronic type A or B aneurysms had elective repair, and all patients with acute or chronic type A aneurysms had surgical treatment. Four patients with acute type A and two with acute type B aneurysms had elective operation, with survival in three and one, respectively. Nine patients with chronic type A and six with chronic type B aneurysms had elective operation, and all survived. Twelve patients with chronic type B aneurysms did not have operation, and all were alive at early follow-up. Mortality for patients having acute type A aneurysms requiring emergency operation was greater than that after elective repair of acute or chronic type A aneurysms. Short-term survival for chronic type B aneurysms was similar whether the patient was treated medically or surgically.

Aorta, Thoracic↗
PubMed1987

Esophageal mucocele: a complication of blind loop esophagus.

Mucocele of the bypassed esophagus is an unusual complication of esophageal replacement and has been described only in isolated references. This report is based on our experience with 6 patients in whom a mucocele developed following esophageal replacement. Esophageal replacement was performed on 37 patients over a 10-year period at the Medical College of Georgia Hospital. A symptomatic mucocele requiring excision developed in 3 patients with achalasia, 1 with congenital tracheoesophageal fistula, 1 with esophageal atresia, and 1 with inflammatory stricture. Conduits used included stomach (4), reversed gastric tube (1), and colon (1). Our experience indicates that conversion of a closed-loop esophagus into a symptomatic mucocele is more likely in the presence of functioning, chronically irritated mucosa. The clinical features were referable to the mucocele itself or respiratory embarrassment therefrom. Thoracic roentgenograms and computed tomographic scans were diagnostic in verifying the presence of the esophageal mucocele. All five mucoceles arose from squamous epithelium. One of 3 patients with achalasia in whom a mucocele developed following esophageal replacement had premalignant changes in the mucosa. Based on this experience, our treatment of choice is early, complete excision of the mucocele.

Esophageal Diseases↗
PubMed1987

Disc immobilization of Björk-Shiley and Medtronic Hall valves during and immediately after valve replacement.

During the last fourteen years, 377 unileaflet tilting-disc prosthetic valves (Björk-Shiley and Medtronic Hall) have been used for single or multiple valve replacements with and without concomitant coronary artery by-pass grafting. In the past five years, five instances of disc immobilization (three in the mitral and two in the aortic position) occurred either at the time of weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass or immediately thereafter. When the implanted site of the prosthetic valve was the mitral position, reexploration in 2 patients revealed chordal remnants in the subannular area stuck between the disc occluder and the valve ring, thereby immobilizing the disc. In the third instance, the free movement of the disc was impeded by the left ventricular myocardium. In the aortic position, an unraveled suture impacted between the disc occluder and the valve ring immobilized the disc in 1 patient. In the other patient, the cause of the malfunction could not be determined at the time of reexploration. The 1 death among these 5 patients was directly related to the malfunction of the prosthesis. The mechanism, recognition, treatment, and prevention of this catastrophic malfunction of tilting-disc valves are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Traumatic superior mesenteric arteriovenous fistula: report of a case and review of the literature.

Penetrating arterial injuries can result in the formation of a traumatic false aneurysm or an arteriovenous fistula. Traumatic arteriovenous fistulas of the mesenteric circulation are extremely rare, with only 15 operated cases reported in the English language literature that involved the superior mesenteric artery and vein. Although surgical intervention has been considered the most successful method to treat traumatic mesenteric arteriovenous fistulas, percutaneous transcatheter embolization has been occasionally advocated in the management of small iatrogenic fistulas. We report a case of a gunshot wound patient who had an 8 cm abdominal aortic false aneurysm, as well as a high-flow arteriovenous communication between the superior mesenteric artery and vein, which were successfully treated by a combination of aorto-superior mesenteric bypass and postoperative percutaneous transcatheter embolization. A review of the literature is also included.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Prevention of postoperative neurologic deficits after carotid endarterectomy. Is platelet inhibition beneficial?

Aspirin (ASA) and dipyridamole (DIP) have been shown to reduce the incidence of transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), but aspirin's ability to reduce the incidence of postoperative neurologic deficits in patients who require carotid endarterectomy (CE) is controversial. To evaluate the role of adjunctive ASA/DIP in conjunction with CE, 908 CE cases were reviewed. Four hundred sixty-seven patients took ASA (650 mg/day) and DIP (150 mg/day) preoperatively, while 381 received no ASA/DIP. There was no statistical difference in the distribution of postoperative neurologic deficits. Twenty-six transient deficits occurred: 14 (53%) patients were taking ASA/DIP, whereas 12 (47%) were not. Seventeen permanent deficits occurred: ten (58%) patients were taking ASA/DIP and seven (42%) were not. ASA/DIP are useful medications in combating ischemic cerebrovascular disease, but ASA/DIP cannot replace precise operative technique which affords unequaled protection against a postendarterectomy neurologic deficit.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Two decades of experience with modified Heller's myotomy for achalasia.

We reviewed the hospital records of 36 patients who underwent modified Heller's myotomy for achalasia between January, 1961, and December, 1982. There were 18 male and 18 female patients ranging between 17 months and 75 years old. The most frequent symptom was dysphagia, followed by regurgitation of ingested food and weight loss. Modified Heller's myotomy was performed through a transthoracic incision in 35 patients and a transabdominal incision in 1. An antireflux procedure in addition to esophagomyotomy was performed in 20 patients. There was 1 postoperative death. Thirty-three patients were followed up for periods ranging from 9 months to 21 years. The results were considered good in 27, fair in 2, and poor in 4. One of the 4 underwent repeat esophagomyotomy 71/2 years after the initial operation with a good result. The remaining 3 had an antireflux procedure at the time of esophagomyotomy. Because of recurrence of symptoms, esophagogastrostomy was performed in 1 and colon interposition in 2. These results suggest that an antireflux procedure should not be added to modified Heller's operation in the treatment of achalasia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Thoracic duct injury from blunt trauma.

We have reported a case of traumatic chylothorax occurring as a rare complication of fracture dislocation of the dorsal spine. When conservative management by drainage, low-fat diet, and parenteral alimentation proved unsuccessful, thoracic duct ligation effected a cure.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1983

Current physiologic pacemakers: a serious problem with a new device.

Twenty adults underwent implantation of an automatic (DDD) pacemaker (Medtronic model 7000, Versatrax I) for treatment of symptomatic bradyarrhythmias. Only 9 patients had optimal DDD mode pacing during 78 paced months. In 3 patients, the DDD mode was changed to atrioventricular (AV) sequential (DVI) early because of risk imposed by sustained tachycardia upon underlying myocardial ischemia. The remaining 8 had had tachycardia due to pacemaker reentry, and 7 had neurologic and cardiovascular symptoms. DDD pacing was abandoned in 5 when reentry could not be interrupted by digitalis administration or reprogramming. Three continue to be paced in DDD mode despite intermittent reentrant tachycardias, with digitalis diminishing episodes of reentry in only 1. Mean ventriculoatrial conduction time was 229 +/- 34 ms. Reentrant pacemaker tachycardia developed in 7 of 12 with normal or nearly normal AV conduction, but in only 1 of 5 with complete heart block. Preimplantation electrophysiologic study did not reliably detect and initial postoperative Holter monitoring did not predict reentrant tachycardia. The risk of reentry caused by a short, fixed atrial refractory period combined with the high occurrence of slow retrograde AV conduction, particularly in patients with normal or nearly normal anterograde conduction, renders the Versatrax I and other similar pacemakers unsuitable for DDD mode pacing in many patients.

Bradycardia↗
PubMed1978

The cause of kinking of the right pulmonary artery in the Waterston anastomosis. A growth phenomenon.

The case is presented of an infant, referred at the age of 8 hours, who underwent a Waterston anastomosis for pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum and a hypoplastic right ventricle. Angiographic studies performed 3 days and 12 months after the Waterston anastomosis clearly demonstrated that kinking was not present soon after the operation but developed later. Kinking of the right pulmonary artery is a widely recognized complication of the Waterston anastomosis. Data from other workers show that severe kinking occurs more frequently in infants operated during the first year of life than in those treated after 1 year of age. These data and the case herein presented support the hypothesis that the kinking occurring after the Waterston anastomosis develops because of growth and realignment of the great arteries. Because of this and other problems encountered after the Waterston anastomosis, it is recommended that either primary correction or, in case of an uncorrectable cardiac defect, a Blalock-Taussig shunt should be performed.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1977

Chylothorax: therapeutic alternatives.

Persistent loss of chyle, rich in metabolites, water and electrolytes, can be quickly devastating, particularly in debilitated patients and children. Chylothorax of traumatic origin, especially when loss of chyle is rapid, is most effectively arrested with direct closure of the fistula or ligation of the thoracic duct. Thoracic duct ligation is indicated when a controlled fat diet or parenteral hyperalimentation without oral intake and closed chest drainage are not effective in arresting chylous pleural effusions.

Adolescent↗